We have built a fully automatic, continuous
flow test bed to evaluate our hydrothermal process and to determine
the types of chemicals that can be produced. The results of a two
year study have shown that commercially valuable chemicals can be
produced from our process using sugars, starches and agricultural
products such as beets, hay, sugar cane and corn stover. The
chemicals produced, in order of highest yield to lowest yield, are
hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), acetol (hydroxyacetone),
3-methyl-1,2-cyclopentenedione, acetone, acetaldehyde, trimethylamine
and acetic acid. Sugars and sugar beets also produced furfural.
Our patented process uses catalyst and
high water temperatures to dissolve the biomass and produce the
chemical products. The ability to produce higher value chemicals, as
compared to lower value fuels, greatly enhances the commercial
viability of our process. Several of the chemicals that are produced can be
marketed directly as green, renewable consumer products or modified
for that market. These include acetone, acetol and HMF. These three products
also have industrial markets. Acetaldehyde, acetic acid and
trimethylamine have existing markets as industrial chemicals while
3-methyl-1,2-cyclopentenadione can be used to make high octane
fuels or it can be used in the plastics industry.
The process was found to have high
yields with over 50% of the biomass being converted to useful
products. The process uses materials, equipment and techniques
already applied in the petrochemicals industry which will help when
scaling up to commercial production levels. We're currently looking for
partners that can help us commercialize our process.